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Your guests have just arrived to your destination wedding and they’re handed a bag with must haves for the week!
Don’t waste your money and time buying junk, let’s look for practicality.
Before I go any further, this idea is OPTIONAL. Repeat after me- this will not make or break your wedding. No one will judge you for not having one. No one is expecting one. It’s an extra that if you choose to invest time and money into your guests will appreciate. You chose to do a destination wedding to avoid the headache of all the little details. If this adds stress to your plate, stop reading now. If it makes you excited, let’s keep going!
A few things to keep in mind from the beginning:
Some of your guests won’t have space to bring things home.
Don’t duplicate things you’re sure they have with them already (unless you’ve told them to expect a certain goodie and not to bring it).
Know your audience
There’s no right way to do this.
The goal of a guest bag is to show them you’re glad they’re there, to provide something they may have forgotten/not thought of, and to give them a useful way to cart their pool necessities while there.
Below is my list of welcome bag suggestions. It’s your bag and your wedding. Try to buy in bulk, buy in advance and have fun!
The bag. Make it one that will hold up throughout the week and can hold cups, sunscreen etc. Whether you customize it or not that’s up to you and your budget.
A welcome letter- thank them for being there, spending time/money to join you etc. This is a great place to put reminders they’ll need throughout the week.
Itinerary. This gets rid of questions and provides something for guests to glance at. (Be mindful that bridal party/family may have different itineraries than a general guest). Also keep in mind an electronic version should always be available.
Fans. Whether personalized or not, fans are a great thing to have at the ceremony.
Hangover kits. An extremely practical gift whether they’re drinking or just spending time in the sun. Advil, Emergen-C, Hydration packs like Advocare, under eye patches etc.
If your resort uses key cards, get key card holders and tie a wristband to it. You can personalize these with an itinerary insert or sticker with your wedding information on it.
Gum/candy/snacks. A little bag of pretzels and a snickers bar will certainly be consumed post wedding festivities.
Lip Balm with SPF.
Aloe Vera. You can buy bulk size and put into mini travel bottles to save money.
Sunscreen. Mini bottles just in case they run out.
Water bottles - these are an expensive gift, but very practical poolside!
Some sort of tag for their bag- they’ll all look the same when sitting pool side- a key chain with their initial on it, luggage tag etc will help!
Fun sunglasses. One per person. Wedding colors, ones you had designed on etsy with your names on them. These are fun in photos!
Hair ties/claw clips- an easy thing to forget.
If you have kids at the wedding, think about crayons, coloring books, pool toys etc!
Things to think about beyond what to include.
Check your customs rules. Mexico for example only allows up to $500 in merchandise to come into the country. If this means that your parents are bringing some items with them, plan ahead of time.
Identify how you’re giving these to guests. You can do a room drop with the hotel (this is a paid service), can pass them out at your welcome cocktail, or have them pool side day one. If you are doing a private check in at the resort they can be given out there. If your travel agent is joining you for your big day, this is a great ask of them!
I hope this list gives you a little guidance on planning a way to say welcome to your friends and family when they join you in paradise!
XO
Vic
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